Improvement in combined steam and cut-off valves



A.J.L;LnETz 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

COMBINED STEAM AND CUT- OFF VALVE.

NL1e91L 'L M llllll Patented Nov.1e, 1a75.

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ulllllllll N-PETERS, FHDTO-LITHOGHAFHEFL WASHINGTON D CV fa'. 4f

\ ZSheets-Sheetz. A. J. L. LORETZ.

rCOMBINED STEAM'AND CUT-oFFv VALVE. N0.169,911. Patented Nov.16,1875.

HIIII WH/masas s j Maf/W04 N-PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON, D. C.

' causes considerable noise and wear. Neither UNITED STATES PATENT EETOE.

ARTHUR J. L. LORETZ, OE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED STEAM AND CUT-OFF VALVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 169.91 l, dated November 16, 1875; application filed September 20, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LARTEUR J. L. LORETZ, of Brooklyn, New York, have invented an I1nprovement in Steam-Valves with CutOff Combined for Direct-Acting Engines, of which the following is a speciication:

The said invention relates to an improvement in steam-valves actuated by steam, and an expansion-gear combined therewith, for the purpose of cutting off the steam or other elas-V tio iiuids at different points during the course of the piston of the engine operated by the above-named valve-gear, and is particularly applicable to engines ofthe direct-acting kind, where no crank and ly-wheel are used.

The invention consists in the application and improvement of certain mechanical devices for which Letters Patent were granted to me June 2,1874, No. 151,667, and combined with additional devices, and the use for yan additional purpose of certain elements.

In the above-named Letters Patent there were no provisions made for what is termed cushioning the valve or auxiliary piston, when driven to and fro against the heads of the valve-chest by the action of the steam, which were there any means provided against a like action of the key in the stem against the slot inthe valve when the valve was operated by the momentum of the piston. lBoth of these defects have been overcome in the present mprovement by the use of heavy springs, and other mechanical equivalents or substitutes, which will be hereafter described.

The action of the cut-oil' is created, first, by a slight change in the ports of the valve-chest connecting with those ofthe main cylinder; second, an alteration in the shape of the grooves, which'are. turned in the periphery of the valve and auxiliary piston, into which holes Vare drilled for the entrance of steam, said holes corresponding with those in the shell or valve-chest; third, an oscillating motion ot' the valve and stem, by any proper mechanism attached to the tappet on the piston-rod, and acting on the valve-stem, causing the corresponding holes or apertures in the shell through which the steam enters, and those in the valve connecting with the grooves, to overlap each other, by the space between the holes in the valve passing over the apertures in the shell, thereby cutting off the steam, the holes or apertures at each end ot' the valveehest through which the steam enters being in a straight line opposite each other, while those on the valve connecting with t-he grooves in the periphery, with regard to their rectilineal position, are so arranged that the holes on one side are in a line with the spaces between those on the opposite side, the reason for thus locating the holes being that, when the steam lis out off during the` course of the piston in one stroke, and theholes in chest and valve consequently lapping when the valve is thrown in its rectilineal position in the opposite direction, the holes in that last position of the valve will correspond with those in the shell, thereby admitting steam into the groove and when again twisted to cut ott' the steam, the Openings will be in proper position for the reception of steam on the other side.

To enable others skilled in the mechanical art to construct and use my invention I will describe the construction and Operation, ret'- erence being had to the accompanying draw-4 ings, which form part of this specitieation, as also those of the referred-to patent, so far as is necessary to make this present invention operative.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the whole arrangement in section, representing all the operative elements on the dead-lap in order to show the proper proportions of the several parts. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the shell, with an exterior view of the valve and heads, representing the relative position of the holes G1 G2, connecting with the grooves D1 D2 turnedV in the periphery of the valve C, connecting alternately with apertures Nl N2 of the jacket M, and with the main ports 01 O2. Fig. 3 is a cross-section through Fig. 1 at a point corresponding with the letters of the latter at M T? O2, representing the holes G2, connecting with main port O2 at a time when the exhaust passes through. Fig. 4 is a section through the same, as above, representing the valve twisted, and 'showing that the oscil-v lation or cut-oli' motion otl the valve does not aii'ect the exit of the exhausting steam from the main ports O2 or O1 into the holes C2 or (l1, connecting with the grooves D2 or D1, and -l'rom thence from either of said grooves to main exhaust-port O2. Fig. 5 is a cross-section through Fig. l at a point corresponding with the letters P4 P5 P6 R4 R5 R6, this section representing how the ports P5 R5 are widened from ports P4 R6 toward the ports P6 R2 on the valve-stem D, so that the oscillation of thc valve C and stem D do not interfere with the passage ot' the steam. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectionfot' the valve-chest, representing more particularly the steam-apertures N1 N2, main ports O1 O2, and exhaust-port O3.l Fig. 7 represents the valve in proper position for the admission oi' the steam into the main port O2, and exhausting; from O1 to O2. Fig. 8 represents the valve twisted, the steam having been cut oft' by the oscillation ofthe valve C, and having caused the communicating apertures N2 and C2 to lap. Fig. 9 is a section through Fig. 7 at a point corresponding with the letters, showing the steam passing through N2 and G2; and Fig. l0, a cross-section through Fig. 8, corresponding with similar letters, showing" the cut-oft' by the lapping of N2 and C2. Fig. 1l is a cross-section through the center of the valve-chest, showing themain exhaust-ports O3. Fig. 12 represents the cushioning-springs S, which are made of heavy square spring-steel, their office being, as hereinafter stated, to keep the valve C. from striking the heads E1 E2 when operated by steam or tappets T T2 on valve-stern D, Figxl, which are a substitute for the key T in the referredto patent, the springs S also acting as cushions for the tappets T1 T2 when the latteroperate the valve C. Fig. 13 is a section and outside view of the collars X, which keep the springs S in position in the ends oi' valve C. Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section ot' the valve C, representing the manner in which the cushioning-springs S S1 are secured by collars X; also, the shape of the grooves Dl D2, and the relative position of the apertures G1 C2, connecting with the said grooves.

The construction and operation of the valve are as follows: The steam enters the valvechest through thenozzle L, to which the steamsupply pipe is attached, enters the chamber N, Fig. 1, filling the auxiliary ports P1 P4 in the valve-chest, and P3 P5 in the heads E1 E2. The valve-stem D now being moved to the right in the direction of the head E2 (supposing the valve G to have been previously thrown to the left ltoward head El) by a tappet-connection, as described in the referred-to patent-an eccentric or any mechanism deriv ingits power from the piston which 'the said valve operates-the slot P2 in the valve-stem will then allow the steam to enter from port P3 into the space between head El and the end of valve C, while the slot R4, on the opposite v side of the valve-stem, will open a communication between the space formed by the end of valve C- and head E2 and the main exhaust-port O3 by connecting with auxiliary ports R5 R6,

vtion of heads El E2.

freeing the said end from the vapor used on the previous stroke, allowing the steam which enters through the ports Pl P3 P2 to throw the valve in the direction of the head E2, Fig. 7. The valve in this position will allow the steam to enter through the apertures N2, Fig. 9, the

Aopening G2 communicating with the groove D2,

Fig. 7, and enter port O2, which connects with the main cylinder port, the exhaust steam from the opposite port O1 passing-off' by way ot' counter-bore O1 in the interior of valve-chest, Figs. 6 and 7, through holes G1 communicating with groove D1, and from thence to main exhaust-port O2. Now, when the steam is required to be cut oit' at the port O2, Fig. 7, which enters through N2, Fig. 9, the valve is oscillated by any proper mechanism operating on the valv-e-stem D, which communicates said motion to the valve C by means ot' pins'Z, Fig. l, allowing the valvestem to move independently of the valve in a rectilineal movement by working in grooves R1 R4, but latter-ly oscillating the valve with the stem, in order to lap the ports N2 and O2, as represented in Figs. 8 and 10, when the steam will be cut oft' from port O2. This oscillating movement does not affect the exhaust, because the holes G1 on the opposite end of the valve C communicate with a continuous counterbore O1, as shown by Figs. 3 and 4. The valve thus twisted, and the ports N2 and G2 lapping, Figs. 8 and l0, the holes Cl on the opposite end of thevalve C will be in position to receive the steam through apertures NL when thrown over by a rectilineal motion similar to the one'as previously stated, viz., by the slot P in valve-stem D admitting the steam between the space formed by the end ot' valve C and head E2, and slot R1 exhausting the steam from the opposite end ot' valve C.

The office ot' the key T, which is mentioned in the referredto patent, for the purpose ot" held -in position by being clamped between the shoulder of a counter-bore in each end of' the valve C and collars X, Figs. l and 14.., The steam is prevented from blowing through the center of the bore of the valve C, wherel the stem D passes by the latter being pro-- vided with packing-rings T3, as shown ini Fig. l. The springs S, besides performing a. double function-namely, that of cushioning.l the valve when acted upon by the steam or' tappet, and cushioning the action of the tap pet against the valve when the valve is oper-- ated by the momentum ofthe piston-penforms a third-viz., that of starting the main: valve in the manner hereinafter described.. When the valve is driven toward the heads E1 E2, either by the action of the steamorI The said springs are:

opening communication With the main exhaust.

The pressure having been taken ofi the opposite side of the valve in the manner just described the compressed spring will return to its original length, thereby moving the valve in a forward position, and assisting the action of the steam, or that of the tappet caused by the momentum of the main piston, or both actions at the saine time, according to the speed of the main piston.

The valve is operated according to the above description bythree different actions, the three actions combined operating the main valve and auxiliary piston when the main piston of the engine is running very fast, and two actions operating-viz., steam and spring- When running sloW.

I do not propose to confine myself to an oscillating motion for the purpose of cutting oi' steam, for the apertures N1 N2, with their proper lapping space in the valvechest, might be carried around the Whole interior circumference of the bore; also, the corresponding holes C1 G2 connecting with grooves D1 D2 around the whole periphery ot' the valve C; and a rotative motion, With a dwell divided into intervalsthe length ofthe distance from the center of a hole to the center ot' a space, Would answer as Well, and better, Where the valve is attached to a rotative engine, the rotative motion With variable dwell being connected directly to the valvel and not to the stem; consequently when I speak of oscillating or segmental motion I wish to be understood to mean as Well a rotative motion, one being substituted for the other, according to the class of engines the valve is used to opcrate.

I claiml. The valve C, With grooves D1 D2 and connecting-holes C1 G2, arranged in the manner described, and having an oscillating or rota-` tive and rectilineal movement, in combination with the valve-chest, provided with apertures N1 N2 connecting with jacket M, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

2. The combination With a valve, C, provided With grooves D1 D2 and connectingholes G1 G2, arranged as described, and having an oscillating or rotative and rectilineal movement, the valve-chest, provided with counter-bored ports O1 O2, for the purpose herein set forth.

3. The valve C, provided With springs S, arranged and secured as described, in combination With the heads El E2, provided with an interior projection, as described, and stem D, arranged as specified, for the purpose of cushioning the action of the valve G against the heads El E2, and alsol cushioning the action of the stem D against the valve C, each spring performing a double function, as herein, and for the purpose specified.

4. In combination With a valve, G, acting as main valve and auxiliary piston, and valvestem D, arranged and constructed as specied, and acting as an auxiliary valve, when combined With ports and passages in the valve-chest and heads E1 E2, as specied, a spring, S, acting to start the main valve and auxiliary piston G, as specified, in addition to the functions of cushioning the action of the valve C against the heads EPEZ, and also cushioning the action of the stem D against the valve C, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose herein specified. v

` ARTHUR J. L. LORETZ.

Witnesses:

J. BURRILL, j Jos. H.'BURR1:LL. 

